I have a few doors inside my house that will not shut tightly. It's as though the latch in the door handle can't catch in the door frame. Rather than get frustrated and yell, I figured some experienced home contractor could help me out.
Thanks!
2007-03-05 01:04:22 · 8 answers · asked by Jim I 5 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
There is a plate on the door jamb that the door latch catches on, they are not really adjustable, but they can be repositioned to make the door close tighter.
The way you explain it it sounds as if the Door latch isn't getting into the plate on the door jamb, which would indicate a need to move it backwards slightly.
The can sometimes be pried slightly with a screwdriver but that's a touchy thing to do and you might break it so be careful
2007-03-05 01:15:41 · answer #1 · answered by occluderx 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it is a latching problem it is easily corrected.
First, look at the latch button, where it extends from the door.
Does it extend fully?
Push it in and release. Does ir return nicely?
If not, it has probably been pushed downwards over time, and you have to realign it. This is simple. Loosen the two bolts on the rose (the plate behind the handle) and lift upwards. Move it about 1/4 inch. Now press the button again. Do that a couple of times until it releases. You may also need to spray a light oil into the opening, so allow the button to move more freely.
If it still does not release you will have to remove the knob completely and either replace the unit or buy a new latch part.
Parts tend to be very expensive, compared to unit price, so look at both.
If that was not the problem, then get a flashlight and use it to see what happens when the door closes.
Push the door closed and watch the latch button. If it pushes up against the plate, but does not catch (enter the hole in the plate)
then you can see if the plate is too high or too low by using the flashlight. If you still cannot see, you can use a sharp-tipped marker and do the same as above. While watching the button, put a mark on the plate as close as you can to the bottom of the button.
Open the door and see what the difference is. If it is too high, you will have to lower the strike plate. If too low, you have to raise it. If it is just right (does this sound like Goldilocks?) then the plate is too far back, and will have to come forward.
Moving the plate means removing two screws that hold it in place. Fill the holes with a wood matchstick or toochpicks. Push them in hard and break them off. No glue is needed.
There will be a hole in the jamb behind the plate.
Now close the foor again and see if the button will enter that hole.
If it does, and if you have sufficient room to move the plate, to still allow entry, you merely re-position the plate and put the screws into place to hold it there. If not, you will need a small chisel and a hammer to remove a bit of the wood to make it fit, then re-position the plate.
A sharp, strong, knife will probably do it, but a chisel is safer to use.
2007-03-05 01:35:59 · answer #2 · answered by Ef Ervescence 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You will have to adjust the strike plate, if it is not catching. First, kneel in front of the door and look at the latch mechanism as you slowly close the door. Watch to see if the latch mechanism is hitting too high or too low on the strike plate to catch in the hole of the plate; sometimes it helps to somehow mark where the exact top and bottom of the hole are on the side of the doorjamb, so you can judge properly where the mechanism is hitting. If the strike plate doesn't need to be adjusted up and down, then it will need to be adjusted out towards you. This can be done easily; you will need a screwdriver or screwgun to unscrew the plate and reposition it properly. Sometimes you will need a chisel to make the hole in the wall behind the strike plate a bit bigger, but some determination and a flathead screwdriver works, too. If you have to move the plate up or down, you may have to chisel a bit, because the plate is recessed into the jamb.
Also, if the plate has been adjusted before, you will have at least one extra set of screw holes in the wall, and that may mess up where you want to put your screws; you can use slivers of wood to fill them in. Just keep packing slivers of wood into the screw hole until it is hole is tightly filled, then place your screw wherever you want.
2007-03-05 01:52:45 · answer #3 · answered by yesod7 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It could be as simple as adjusting the strike plate that is located on the door jamb. If there is too large of a gap between jamb and door, your house has probably settled and you should re square the door frame, or at least remove casing and shim behind jamb where door latches.
2007-03-05 01:15:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Take off the striker plate and put wooden shims behind it. Wooden matches are a good thing to use, they aren't to thick. If you need more than a gentle adjustment, maybe put shims behind the hinges. If this is an old house, the door frame could of shrunk and the door needs replaced.
2007-03-12 12:15:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shut Tight
2016-12-14 13:40:36 · answer #6 · answered by mosen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oil em a little, they are probably swollen with the damp weather... If they are really tight take them off and have a cabinet shop shave them
2007-03-09 17:24:31 · answer #7 · answered by greenhollow2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.hometips.com/home_probsolver/hps08/01_generaldoor/hps_generaldoor01.html
2007-03-05 02:18:19 · answer #8 · answered by sadie_oyes 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋